---
type: claim
domain: space-development
description: "Starship-class launch at sub-100/kg plus advanced radiative thermal management plus Tbps optical links plus radiation-tolerant AI accelerators plus autonomous servicing — all five needed and none proven at scale"
confidence: likely
source: "Astra, space data centers feasibility analysis February 2026; Google Project Suncatcher analysis"
created: 2026-02-17
depends_on:
- space-based computing at datacenter scale is blocked by thermal physics because radiative cooling in vacuum requires surface areas that grow faster than compute density
- Starship achieving routine operations at sub-100 dollars per kg is the single largest enabling condition for the entire space industrial economy
challenges:
- Starcloud is the first company to operate a datacenter-grade GPU in orbit but faces an existential dependency on SpaceX for launches while SpaceX builds a competing million-satellite constellation
reweave_edges:
- Starcloud is the first company to operate a datacenter-grade GPU in orbit but faces an existential dependency on SpaceX for launches while SpaceX builds a competing million-satellite constellation|challenges|2026-04-04
- orbital compute hardware cannot be serviced making every component either radiation-hardened redundant or disposable with failed hardware becoming debris or requiring expensive deorbit|related|2026-04-04
- google-project-suncatcher|related|2026-04-11
- Google's Project Suncatcher research identifies $200/kg launch cost as the enabling threshold for gigawatt-scale orbital AI compute constellations, validating the tier-specific model where constellation-scale ODC requires Starship-class economics while proof-of-concept operates on Falcon 9|supports|2026-04-11
related:
- orbital compute hardware cannot be serviced making every component either radiation-hardened redundant or disposable with failed hardware becoming debris or requiring expensive deorbit
- google-project-suncatcher
supports:
- Google's Project Suncatcher research identifies $200/kg launch cost as the enabling threshold for gigawatt-scale orbital AI compute constellations, validating the tier-specific model where constellation-scale ODC requires Starship-class economics while proof-of-concept operates on Falcon 9
sourced_from:
- inbox/archive/2026-02-17-astra-space-data-centers-research.md
---

# Orbital data centers require five enabling technologies to mature simultaneously and none currently exist at required readiness

The viability of orbital data centers at commercially meaningful scale depends on the simultaneous maturation of five independent enabling technologies. The failure of any single one is sufficient to block the entire concept. As of early 2026, none of the five exist at the required readiness level.

**1. Starship-class launch at $100/kg or less.** Google's feasibility analysis pins orbital compute cost-competitiveness at $200/kg launch costs, projected around 2035 if Starship achieves 180 flights per year at full reusability. Current Falcon 9 customer pricing is approximately $2,720/kg. Status: TRL 7-8 for the vehicle, but the cost target depends on operational tempo that is TRL 4-5.

**2. Advanced radiative thermal management at data center scale.** A 100 MW orbital facility needs approximately 100,000 square meters of radiator surface weighing over 500,000 kg. No design, prototype, or credible roadmap exists for megawatt-scale radiative cooling in orbit. Status: TRL 2-3 at megawatt scale.

**3. High-bandwidth optical inter-satellite links at Tbps-plus.** Distributed orbital compute requires inter-node communication far beyond current capability. Starlink at 200 Gbps, next gen targeting 1 Tbps. Blue Origin TeraWave at up to 6 Tbps. Terrestrial data center aggregate bandwidth exceeds 100 Tbps. Status: TRL 6-7 for current generation, TRL 3-4 for the 10-100 Tbps links orbital compute at scale would require.

**4. Radiation-tolerant or radiation-hardened AI accelerators.** Google's TPU testing (no hard failures to 15 krad) is encouraging but represents one chip architecture in short-duration exposure. Long-duration operation remains uncharacterized for commercial AI hardware. Status: TRL 4-5 for commercial chips in LEO.

**5. Autonomous satellite servicing or reliable disposable architecture.** Without maintenance capability, every satellite has a fixed operational lifetime of 5-10 years. Status: TRL 3-4 for commercial servicing, with single-mission demonstrations only.

The probability of all five maturing on compatible timelines is the product of their individual probabilities -- substantially lower than any single probability.

## Evidence
- google-project-suncatcher feasibility analysis (2035 cost-competitiveness projection)
- Current TRL assessments across all five technology areas
- Falcon 9 pricing at ~$2,720/kg vs required $100-200/kg

## Challenges
Distributed architecture (thousands of small satellites) changes the thermal and servicing math but multiplies launch costs and introduces distributed computing challenges that compound the bandwidth requirement.

---

Relevant Notes:
- [[space-based computing at datacenter scale is blocked by thermal physics because radiative cooling in vacuum requires surface areas that grow faster than compute density]] — technology #2 is the hardest with no credible roadmap
- [[Starship achieving routine operations at sub-100 dollars per kg is the single largest enabling condition for the entire space industrial economy]] — technology #1 is the keystone that gates all others economically
- [[modern AI accelerators are more radiation-tolerant than expected because Google TPU testing showed no hard failures up to 15 krad suggesting consumer chips may survive LEO environments]] — technology #4 showing promising early results

Topics:
- [[space exploration and development]]